You're listening to the I Pray with the Gospel Sunday Reflection on the St. Jose Maria Institute podcast.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

My Lord and my God, I firmly believe that you are here, that you see me, that you hear me.

I adore you with profound reverence.

I ask your pardon for my sins and the grace to make this time of prayer fruitful.

My Immaculate Mother, St. Joseph, my father, and Lord,

my guardian angel, intercede for me. The 29th Sunday in ordinary time. A reading from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 18. Jesus told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

He said, in a certain city there was a judge who never feared God nor regarded man,

and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying,

vindicate me against my adversary. For a while he refused, but afterwards he said to himself,

though I neither fear God nor regard man,

yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her,

or she will wear me out by her continual coming.

And the Lord said,

Hear what the unrighteous judge says,

and will not God vindicate his elect who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?

I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily.

Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?

Jesus wants us to pray without losing heart,

but this gospel passage finishes with a reproach for the lack of faith.

Many people don't pray because they don't expect their prayers to be answered.

For some, prayer is the last resort.

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